Increased Utilization of the Ticket to Work Program Could Yield Savings as High as $251 Billion for Social Security’s Disability Insurance Trust Fund, According to a Brattle Report
Prepared for Allsup Employment Services
In a report prepared for Allsup Employment Services, Brattle experts estimate the potential savings to the Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund if the Ticket to Work (TTW) Program – a career development initiative for disability insurance beneficiaries seeking to return to the workforce – were expanded.
Administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA), the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program provides monthly benefits to eligible individuals who, prior to retirement age, have a sufficient work history but are unable to work due to physical or medical conditions. The SSDI program also offers educational, rehabilitation, and training opportunities for those who wish to return to work, including the voluntary TTW Program, which pairs participants with an Employment Network and allows them to work for a trial period while still receiving full SSDI benefits. According to Brattle’s analysis, potential gross savings to the DI Trust Fund could be as high as $251 billion should there be increased utilization of the TTW Program.
The report, “Potential Savings from Social Security Disability Insurance Beneficiaries Returning to Work Through Increased Utilization of the Ticket to Work Program,” was authored by Principal Dr. Steven Herscovici, Research Associate Hyun Do Cha, and Senior Research Analyst Luyan Nguyen.
